The Northwestern University "Wildcat" Marching Band
The "Wildcat" Marching Band has long been recognized as one of the most impressive in the nation. Composed of 147 university students, this great, time-honored organization is known for its high-energy approach to football entertainment. The combination of tremendous spirit with quality playing and sizzling arrangements creates excitement unmatched in any other arena.
NUMB performs for all home football games and at least one road trip to a Big Ten opponent. An all-expense-paid preseason band camp on the Evanston campus brings band members together for a week before New Student Week. It provides them with an opportunity to meet their new classmates and friends while learning and polishing the skills necessary to qualify as a member of the "FINEST BAND IN THE LAND."
NUMB serves as Northwestern's representative of tradition and excellence to hundreds of thousands of people each year, from welcoming the team on game days with "Walk with the Cats" to thrilling Chicagoland professional sports fans with performances at Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears events.
The band's tradition of excellence has also attracted world renowned artists including Gene Krupa, Maynard Ferguson, William Ludwig, and Fredrick Fennell.
Highlights of the 2006 season include six home game appearances, a road trip to the University of Iowa, the Homecoming Pep Rally and Parade featuring NU alumnus Stephen Colbert, and the annual NUMB awards banquet. NUMB is open to all students with previous band experience, providing great fun and excitement in a dynamic Big Ten setting.
The "Wildcat" Marching Band is presented by the School of Music at Northwestern University, Toni-Marie Montgomery, Dean.
NUMB Facts
Membership:
143 Men and Women
Instrumentation:
Wind instrument block of 104, 26 percussion, 10 colorguard, a feature twirler, and 2 drum majors
Specialties:
The "Wildcat" Marching Band has long been famous for its blending of marching and playing perfection, a variety of captivating musical arrangements, and clever routines, as well as for its a capella singing of the Alma Mater, fantastic spirit and energy, and entirely volunteer membership.
Uniforms:
The "Wildcat" Marching Band unveiled an entirely new uniform for the 1996 Rose Bowl game. The uniform features a predominantly black background with the Northwestern University colors represented in a purple overlay and a purple cape. A modified West Point shako, high white plume, white gloves and spats complete the uniform.
Guard:
Since 1948, the "Wildcat" Band has been fronted by the colors of the Big Ten Conference universities. Purple and white drill flags were added in 1975. On the field, the flag corps provides color, flash, and visual enhancement of half-time drills and concert numbers.
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